This week’s episode is dominated by Amy Adams, whose plunging necklines in “American Hustle” ruffled Pete’s feathers, but did we both think her strangely-accented performance was up to scratch? After Pete dismantled the plot mechanics of Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity,” seaboard adventure “All Is Lost” is the latest solo star vehicle to face the podcast’s scrutiny, while a parody of a certain film in “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” had us both on the floor. Elsewhere, we discuss the regular topic of the Foreign Language Film Oscar, in the wake of the recently announced shortlist, and reveal films from world cinema that are technically eligible for bigger prizes. We’re giving our brief thoughts on the year in film before our top ten lists are announced next month, plus there are extensive thoughts on the severity of Jennifer Lawrence’s Oscar-tipped performance, and some choice words about Robert Redford’s vanity.

Opening Segment: Discussing the nine-film shortlist for the Foreign Language Oscar, general observations about Foreign Films’ troubles with eligibility, and which under-seen films are Oscar eligible this year!

[2:55 – 19:40]

Preconception Corner

Reviews of:

All Is Lost

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

[26:15 – 48:15]

Closing Segment: Our take on David O. Russell’s “American Hustle,” discussing 2013 films we’ve been catching up on, and our overall view of the cinematic year!

There’s a healthy bout of nostalgia on this week’s podcast, as we look back on the careers of some passing filmic legends and address a 52 year-old re-release. We dive further into the awards season, with reaction to the Golden Globe nominations and discussion of the politics behind Oscar’s Makeup category. The latest Hobbit film doesn’t get the gangster treatment this time around, but it all sounds like gibberish to Pete, while fishing documentary “Leviathan” threatens to instigate a life-changing decision for Cal. We all know what happened the last time Pete ventured to see a racy French film, but will Jeune et Jolie receive the same treatment? Jewish domestic drama “Fill the Void” encourages a fruitful discussion, despite the fact that Cal saw it over a year ago, while a listener question leads to a lengthy lament about Hollywood’s current 3D fad. Tune in to see which Golden Globe snub outright shocked us, which denouncement of Amy Adams was the bombshell of the week, and some rare kind words from Pete about Christopher Nolan. The pork is in the trees.

The Week’s News:

Oscar announces its shortlist for Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Golden Globe nominations

[3:15 – 17:45]

Opening Segment: Discussing the careers of the late Joan Fontaine, Peter O’Toole, and Eleanor Parker

[17:50 – 25:00]

Preconception Corner

Reviews of:

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug [plus Listener Question from Connor!]

Our latest episode was recorded in two parts due to a technical hitch, but hopefully you won’t be able to tell. The break allowed us to return post-Screen Actors Guild Awards announcement to give a brief run-down of our thoughts, but are we happy with the nominees? Cal had some worrying preconceptions about awards player “Nebraska,” after the (among other things) criminal voice-over in the first fifteen minutes of “The Descendants,” but did its monochrome mumblecore ways win us over? The big questions of the week are where Ethan Hawke’s 73rd film of 2013, “Getaway,” ranks on the dreaded Cage Scale, and whether Selena Gomez can manage to keep her clothes on, while some unexpected female casting in “Kill Your Darlings” threatens to shake up this week’s edition of The Watson Factor. We discuss the virtues of Disney’s “Frozen,” which has us both rapturous about one thing or another, and we take time out to consider the fragility of the Supporting Actor Oscar race, the allure of Imogen Poots’ nose, and revel in Zack Snyder being dealt a body blow by AMPAS.

This week’s episode is particularly risque, as controversial erotic French drama, “Blue is the Warmest Colour,” hits UK screens. Both of us were taken aback by the sapphic desires, but did its all-girl relationship work for us? We had dramatically different opinions of Brian De Palma’s “Carrie,” but Cal caught Kimberley Peirce’s remake and had some choice words to say about it, while a review of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” forces Pete to ponder questionable costume designing. We discuss the mythologising in Disney’s factually dodgy “Saving Mr. Banks,” before chatting about our favourite films about authors. Tune in to hear us re-introduce the Cage Scale, joke about vagina and side-boob shots, and reveal which of the week’s films channels “Mommie Dearest.” All that, plus an epic news segment concerning the latest critics awardsfoils Pete’s plan for an hour-long episode. Maybe one day we’ll get there.